With vast reservoirs of oil and the potential to rival Saudi Arabia as a megaproducer, Iraq has long tantalized the world's energy industry, as well as economists and political leaders worried about the impact of high oil prices.

The Oscar race is usually well defined by this time, but the Bagger's colleague Brooks Barnes explains why this year may be different and the reason comes down to one person: Scott Rudin, the megaproducer who has kept one of his films, "Extremely Loud & Incredibly Close," under wraps to an unusual degree.